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FAKRO’s ‘Z-wave’ FTP-V and FTU-V Electro centre pivot roof windows utilise a wireless communication protocol based on a low-power radio frequency embedded or retrofitted into devices. The natural and white PU-coated pine windows can be used in conjunction with blinds and household appliances from over 200 manufacturers including those manufactured by Apple, Intel, Panasonic, Danfoss heating systems and GEC.

A range of single and multi-channel wall keyboards and programmable remote controls is available giving users scope to create their own systems with a virtually unlimited range, all from a single chip.

The ZWK1 single-channel keyboard controls either a window, external roller shutter awning blind or internal blind. The ZWG1 wireless touch keyboard offers similar characteristics but using a keypad in stylish toughened glass. Both have equivalent multi-channel options.

The ZWPTV is the ultimate multi-channel remote which can operate up to 36 receivers separately and many more in groups. It has a display screen which provides information about items in use and can also operate infra-red RTV devices.

The ZWMP weather module provides scope to automatically close windows if weather conditions change. Signals are detected by rain or wind sensors connected to the device.

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ELGA Process Water introduces fast water system monitoring tool.

ELGA Process Water has introduced a new monitoring tool to help in microbiological control of water systems. Bactiquant®-water is a simple to operate test system that gives a rapid indication of total viable bacteria count – a test which normally takes two or three days – in under an hour. This means that system performance can be monitored on a day-to-day basis, and any deviations from normal conditions can be detected early.

Bacteria from a measured sample volume of water are concentrated by a membrane filter. A fluorescent labelled enzyme substrate is added and the filter unit is incubated for 10-30 minutes allowing bacterial enzymes to react with the substrate to form a fluorescent product. The number of bacteria is estimated by measuring the amount of fluorescence using a hand held fluorometer. The signal produced is directly proportional to the amount of bacteria present, and scientific studies have documented good correlations between Bactiquant®-water and conventional plate counts and microscopic methods.

The Bactiquant®-water package includes sampling equipment, membrane filter, enzyme substrate and fluorometer. It also comes with its own FDA compatible database software which establishes a baseline for normal operation and, using Statistical Process Control based on ISO 11462-1, generates “normal”, “alarm” and “action level” signals. And, of course, ELGA Process Water provides full on-site operator training.

Bactiquant®-water puts water in your control rather than expending resources in detecting and correcting microbiological problems after they have occurred.

Visit www.shop.elgaprocesswater.co.uk for more information.

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Amtech Group has confirmed that the keynote speakers for its two-day ‘Crystal Clear BIM’ conference at the Crystal Building in London will be Roy Evans of the BIM Task Group GSL Workgroup and Professor David Philp, head of BIM with the Cabinet Office and with international construction company Mace.

Reflecting the conference’s focus on the practical implementation of BIM, Roy Evans will talk on ‘The importance of catering for FM from conception to handover’ on the first day (17th June), while Professor Philp will provide an overview of the Government Construction Strategy with regards to BIM on day two (18th June).

Throughout, the conference will take a ‘no-nonsense’, ‘no BIM wash’ approach, concentrating on BIM in a real life context and providing accurate, sensible advice. It will address the needs of those who are already in the process of implementing BIM and those who are looking for guidance on where to begin.

Other speakers will include:

• Ismena Clout, Chair of the British Institute of Facilities Management (BIFM)
• Nick Tune, Director BRE Wales & South West, CEO BRE Canada, Director/Business Manager Building Smart UK
• Steve Race, Architect and former BIM Regional Ambassador, Construction Industry Council
• Ben Haldin, CEO Fulcro
• David Throssell, UK BIM Technical Manager, Skanska
• Gary Ross, Director of BIM Solutions, Amtech Group
• Alexandra Grounds, BIM Director – Applied BIM technologies, Amtech Group

There will also be opportunities to examine the unique architecture of the Crystal Building, one of the world’s greenest buildings.

For full details and to book a place, call Amtech on 0800 028 28 28 or visit www.amtech.co.uk/conference

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At this year’s high-profile Electrical Industry Awards, Megger’s new MFT1700 range of multifunction installation testers scooped the coveted award for Innovative Test and Measurement Product of the Year. The testers were chosen from a wide range of entries in this hotly contested category by a panel of independent judges, all of whom have in-depth knowledge of the electrical industry and its requirements.

Highly intuitive

Among the many benefits that helped to propel the MFT1700 testers to success in the awards are their ease and speed of use. All functions are clearly shown on the front panel and the operation of the instruments – including test selection and the connection of leads – is highly intuitive.

The digital display is complemented by an analogue arc, which allows many types of tests to be carried out more quickly and conveniently. The display also has two digital readouts. The primary readout shows the main parameter under test while the secondary display shows additional information, such as the test voltage or current.

Innovation switching

Innovation is also found in the earth loop impedance testing function. Unlike traditional multifunction testers, the new instruments support two-wire testing, which simplifies connection and makes testing possible at points like light switches where no neutral is available. The instruments offer both non-tripping tests for RCD-protected circuits, and high-current tests for circuits without RCD protection.

A further time saving innovation is automatic switching between connection terminals, which means that when loop tests are carried out with a mains plug, it is unnecessary to change connections during the test.

Increased capability

For RCD testing, the new instruments can be used with type A, AC and S RCDs. There is an option that tests type B, pure D.C. RDCs used on some PV systems. In addition to the standard ramp test, a new pass/fail ramp test has been introduced which saves time in applications where it is only necessary to show that the RCD trips between preset maximum and minimum limits.

An innovation that significantly increases the versatility of high-end instruments in the MFT1700 range is the incorporation of facilities for earth electrode testing. The high-end models also have facilities for testing three-phase RCDs and checking phase rotation. In addition, they are provided with rechargeable batteries that save money and ensure that users are never caught out by having no suitable batteries to hand.

Even safer

Safety has been given particular attention, and the instruments have a CAT IV 300 V rating in line with IEC 61010. In addition, built-in protection means that accidentally connecting an MFT1700 to a live circuit when carrying out an insulation or continuity check generates a warning but does not damage the instrument, even if the test has already been initiated.

Finally, the MFT1700 range includes models that have facilities for storing results for download via a wireless Bluetooth link to a PC, PDA or Smartphone running Megger’s PowerSuite software.

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The UK’s leading home appliance brand Beko plc, has announced Jamie Redknapp as its ambassador to help drive awareness of its exciting new status as an Official Supporter of The FA Cup.

Beko, Official Supporter of The FA Cup, is partnering with the ex-professional footballer and Sky Sports TV pundit for the remainder of the season. Father to two young sons, Jamie will drive awareness of the brand’s activity amongst its key target audience of busy mums and families, through national and women’s consumer media as well as the Beko Mums United Facebook page.

Matthew Jones, Senior Brand Marketing Manager at Beko plc, comments, “We’re thrilled to have Jamie on board and believe he will engage with our audience of mums whilst positioning us as a brand that understands the needs of families. Jamie is a well-known football personality and a great role model for children, but most importantly a father who can relate to family life and juggling a demanding work-life balance. Having Jamie on-board enhances our on-going communications activity including TV and helps bring the brand to life.”

Adds Jamie Redknapp: “I’m delighted to be an ambassador for Beko’s FA Cup activity. It’s a fantastic competition, steeped in history with a real focus on community. Beko are highlighting the importance of making it inclusive to families and I’m really excited to be involved.”

After becoming an Official Supporter of The FA Cup in September last year, Beko launched the first part of its sponsorship activation through a competition with leading schools newspaper, First News. Schools had the chance to win a visit from The FA Cup, Beko-branded football kits for their school team, a coaching session with an FA Legend and FA Cup Semi Final tickets.

Beko’s PR activity around The FA Cup competition is planned to reach across national, regional and consumer lifestyle media, a large network of blogging mums, as well as social media through Beko Mums United on Facebook.

The PR activity is just one part of Beko’s FA Cup sponsorship activity, with TV, retail activation, Facebook advertising and perimeter board messaging during FA Cup matches and in match day programmes throughout the competition.

www.beko.co.uk

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Water softeners are far more common in the UK than at first glance they might appear. With so many homes across the UK built in hard water areas, whilst the majority simply put up with the hard water coming through their water mains, a significant minority currently have taken the sensible step of doing something about it and improving their lifestyle situation.

But despite the attempts to share the message that our American cousins have known for decades – a message that has seen literally millions and millions of softeners purchased and installed across the States – in the UK we’re really only just waking up to the news that installing a water softener will result in lower energy usage and – take a deep breath…..lower energy bills. 15% lower is common, 20% lower is not unreasonable.

At a time when energy bills are heading in one direction only, and sadly that’s up, any investment that a) pays for itself in around two years and b) continues to save you money for as long as you use it seems to be an investment worth looking at closely – and worth recommending to your customers if they live in hard water areas of the UK.

Not prepared to accept the feedback from US citizens alone, in typical US fashion they decided to do some research.

A major independent research study in the USA carried out a couple of years ago, concluded that water softeners are amongst the ‘very best’ household energy savers. The full report can be found at http://www.wqa.org/BattelleReport.

The study found that instantaneous gas water heaters – similar to combi boilers here in the UK – operated on softened water maintained the original factory efficiency rating over a 15 year lifetime. But the study found that tankless water heaters completely failed to function because of scale ‘plugging’ in the downstream plumbing after only 1.6 years of equivalent hot water use on 26 gpg (440 ppm) hard water. Softened water, the report says, saves 34% of costs compared to operating on 20gpg (340 ppm) and saves 47% compared to operation on 30 gpg (530 ppm) hard water. Considering that many places in the UK have mains water at 500 ppm and higher, this puts the scale of the problem – no pun intended – into stark context.

As a consequence of the study, the Water Quality Association – an independent body in the USA, is now promoting water softeners in the USA as ‘the best energy saving device you can buy’.

This report highlights that by installing a water softener, if you live in a hard water area of the UK you will be “conservatively saving up to 20% a year on your energy bills because of the reduced demand on electrical energy supply from a power station or gas combusted in the water heating equipment.”

Heating engineers and installers are well aware of the damage that hard water can cause in heating systems and appliances – they see it pretty much every day of their lives if they work in hard water areas. But many are still to wake up to the very real opportunities that water softeners can offer them and their businesses.

At the risk of teaching granny to suck eggs, the basic principles of softening water are pretty straightforward. Water softeners work in reverse to nature. Rain water is naturally soft and only becomes hard when it filters down through limestone type rocks, picking up hardness impurities as it goes. A water softener does the reverse of this, ‘washing’ hard water through a resin bed that takes out the ‘hardness’ salts – calcium and magnesium – leaving you with softened water, the way nature intended.

If your customers live in a hard water area – which is around 60% of the UK, especially in London and the south east, East Anglia and the Home Counties – they will already know about hard water. Scum in the kettle. Scaling up of showerheads, limescale marks in the sink and loo.

But if that’s what can be seen easily, imagine what damage is being done where you can’t see it, in heating systems, in washing machines and dishwashers, prime targets for hard water damage. Just a 1.6mm build-up of scale on the inside of heating system surfaces can cause a 12% loss in heating efficiency in pipes, in radiators and on heat exchanger surfaces in boilers. Scale will also form around the heating coil and eventually fill a hot water cylinder. It’s estimated that the annual amount of hard water used by an average family of four contains a whopping 70kg of scale. Untreated limescale simply means wasting energy, wasting money and having to replace appliances and heating systems.

As we’ve alluded to already, the most welcome benefit for householders in the current economic climate, is that having softened water in the home can reduce heating bills significantly – 15% reductions in energy bills are commonplace, often more – and importantly, having a water softener installed will reduce maintenance costs on those appliances. Good for the planet. Good for homeowners pockets. An impressive double whammy.

You can install a water softener at anytime. They are quick and simple to install – usually no more than half a day’s work for a competent plumber or heating engineer. Just a minimum water pressure of 1.7 bar (25psi) and access to the mains water supply, drainage and electricity are required. Many installers offer a water softener as ‘part of the package’ when they install a new kitchen or bathroom, because they know that a water softener will help keep the customers investment looking as good as new. But, if you are called to undertake remedial work that has been caused by hard water, particularly replacing a boiler, a radiator or sections of pipework – that’s an excellent opportunity for you to take the customer through the benefits of a water softener.

Water softeners offer the gateway to a better lifestyle for customers – softer skin, shinier hair, softer gentler washing, less cleaning around the house, lower bills on cleaning materials and vitally, to lower energy bills at a time when everyone is looking for savings on utility bills. And for installers they offer a green way to open a new business income stream in 2013.

Wake up to softened water in 2013 – simply a greener way to keep customers happy.

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Building on the success of its pre-weathered PIGMENTO facade and roofing system colour range, VMZINC has launched PIGMENTO Brown. The ultimate colour selected achieved widespread endorsement from 350 architects who commented on 12 colour samples. PIGMENTO Brown provides a combination of durability and scratch resistance and though designed for projects of all types is particularly suited to those in rural environments. Whether used in new build or renovation projects, it can be used to complement a wide range of building envelope materials having a naturally grained surface texture which is evident through the colour in much the same way as timber grain shows through varnish.

PIGMENTO colours are not painted finishes, having been developed through use of modern chromate-free pigment technology which guarantees colour retention and stability. Other PIGMENTO colours include. red, green and blue.

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Havells is a new name in the UK for low voltage circuit protection and control. The Company has launched an exciting new range of consumer units, which will shortly be followed by a whole raft of new products including Type A and Type B distribution boards and MCCB panelboards.

Many people will have heard of Havells Sylvania, which is well known in the lighting industry for its Sylvania, Concord and Lumiance branded products. What is not so well known is that in recent years it has supplied an estimated 50 million poles of circuit breakers as OEM products to leading UK electrical companies and that the parent company, Havells India Ltd., is a fast-growing global manufacturer of residential and commercial switchgear giving it a unique advantage when it comes to entering this highly competitive market.

Having recognised that local market expertise is crucial to gain entry and credibility in the UK market, Havells has appointed a strong management team to handle its switchgear business under Curt Davenport, Managing Director Lighting & Switchgear. The team comprises Gino Stocchetti, Sales & Marketing Director; Mike Lawrence, UK Marketing Manager; Ray Turner, Regional Business Manager North; and Anant Savani, Regional Business Manager South. Together they represent over 100 years’ experience in the UK electrical business.

Marketing Manager, Mike Lawrence, stresses that the Havells range of products is designed to be UK-specific, concentrating on the particular requirements of the 17th Edition of The IET Wiring Regulations (BS 7671:2008), the UK Building Regulations and other UK Regulations. They are manufactured to IEC, European and British standards and approved by leading test and approval authorities including Kema Keur.

The first product offering is the ‘Homesafe’ range of domestic consumer units and associated devices. The range extends from 6-way to 19-way designs with single, split-load and dual-RCD options. Reflecting Havells’ intention to meet specific requirements of the UK market, there is also an option which includes an MID-approved meter for landlord metering.

The consumer unit range will be followed by ‘Powersafe’ Type A and Type B distribution boards and MCCB panelboards. These are designed to satisfy the latest requirements for energy metering and surge protection. The distribution boards will include split-load units with two or three separate banks of MCBs and integral metering. Meters will provide true readings for each MCB group.

In partnership with Furse, the leading UK manufacturer of lightning protection systems, Havells will also be offering MCCB panelboards and distribution boards with standard surge protection kits integrated into the associated metering cableways. This solution eliminates installation variables with short connection leads and is better than the recommendations defined under section 535 of BS 7671 Revision 1.

Havells switchgear products received an enthusiastic response when previewed in September at Elex 2011 in Coventry. They will be shown again at Sandown Park, Esher (November 10-11). Leading distributors are already taking delivery of stocks.

“”We believe we know the UK market and have developed an innovative UK-specific product range that contractors will find competitively priced, reliable, easy to install and fully compliant with all major Regulations and recommendations in the United Kingdom”” says Mike Lawrence.

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Water is the most precious commodity we have on this planet and there’s plenty of it. Sadly, less than 2% of what we have is fresh water.

We need it for the basic necessities of everyday life – we drink it, we need it to maintain good hygiene, it’s required for the manufacture of most of our food and for pretty much every key product in our everyday lives. There is no alternative

Here in the UK, as a result of global warming, we are seeing changes to rainfall patterns. We’re getting our rainfall less often, but in longer heavier bursts than before and as a result we have seen huge quantities of rainfall causing flooding as the rainwater infrastructure has been unable to cope with it, before those vast quantities of valuable water eventually disappears as run off, into rivers and out to sea.

Polypipe Building Products has launched a range of new solutions into the rainwater harvesting marketplace, targeted specifically at the domestic and residential market, in response to the growing acceptance that the time has come to stop using high quality drinking water to flush down the toilet, wash our cars and water the garden.

With forecasts suggesting that the south coast could be experiencing a Mediterranean climate by 2050 – some suggesting this could arrive much earlier – water could become a very expensive commodity and any help available from naturally occurring sources of water should be met with open arms. The UK’s position as an island, with prevailing winds for much of the time heading at us from the south west across the Atlantic Ocean – and a warm current into the bargain – does give us a number of benefits and Polypipe is one company that believes that preparing now, by conserving precious rainwater supplies, would not be a moment too soon to take rainwater harvesting seriously.

An amazing one third of all water used in the home gets flushed down the toilet – and in most homes, that’s drinking quality water. The roof on an average 4-bed family home captures more than 100,000 litres of rainwater each year – most of which currently goes down the drain and is wasted. When you think that a typical family uses 70,000 litres of water each year on flushing the toilet, clothes washing and outdoor use – watering the garden and cleaning cars, it simply makes sense to harvest it and use it and save on your water bills into the bargain. There are a selection of rainwater harvesting systems available from small ones that just provide for watering gardens and washing cars to larger systems that provide pumped supplies for use in the home alongside mains water.

Polypipe, the UK’s leading building products company, offers Rainstream – a range of rainwater harvesting options designed for everyone – with three straightforward options. Ideal for new build, for retrofit and already seeing major interest from the self-build marketplace, Rainstream is a very simple straightforward rainwater harvesting ‘package’. You can even see it on YouTube at www.youtube.com/watch?v=NS0RnXF_5pM .

The Rainstream system is available as a gravity fed or a pressurised system. Within a gravity fed system, water is pumped from the Rainstream Tank to a header tank in the loft. The water is then fed to each appliance by gravity. Pressurised systems use a pump to feed water directly to the appliance or appliances on demand. The units come pre-assembled ready for installation – you can select from a wide range of tank sizes to meet your specific needs – and the rainwater harvested by the system goes through a three stage filtration process, down to 130 microns. Installation of a Rainstream system from Polypipe will reduce mains water usage by around 50% – a valuable saving particularly if you’re on a metered water supply. The control panel is small and neat and the only evidence that a house has a rainwater harvesting system on the property.

For more information click on to www.polypipe.com.

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Klober Permo Air underlay has been used by self-builder Jacqui Wolfe in the construction of an oak frame home in Helsby Cheshire. The project will consist of several phases using materials from natural and sustainable sources and Passive House principles. The initial stages have comprised of an orangery, a Dutch barn garage and a studio and will be followed by the house, all with a backdrop provided by land owned by the National Trust. The Permo Air was used because it is 13% more breathable than any other underlay. It was also used in the middle of November and provided immediate waterproofing protection in a period of intensely bad weather.

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